Performance Metrics 2: Scorecard Stats Are Your Secret Weapon

Use Scorecard Stats

To Set Your Priorities

and Improve Faster

One of the keys to playing your best golf more consistently is to reduce the number of things you focus on in practice. This may seem counter intuitive, and you may feel as if every part of your game needs work and should be addressed in practice. That concept is not only wrong, but also unproductive. In fact, it’s the slowest path to improving.

You will make much more progress, much faster — and start posting lower scores sooner — through the simple process of prioritizing.

And, believe it or not, your score card has all the clues you’ll need to discover your priorities.

In this newsletter and accompanying video – Part 2 of the High Performance Game Improvement series – I’m going to show you how I use easy-to-keep statistics from the course to set my priorities. As I start to put some serious effort into improving my own golf game (coming off the long shoulder-surgery enforced layoff), I find myself asking exactly the same questions every golfer asks: What do I need to work on? Where should I spend my practice time to get the maximum results? What sort of practice regimen and drills should I be using on the range? How will I know if I am making progress?

This video will show you exactly how I answer those questions and how I am able to sharpen my focus on the most important aspects of my game – both good and bad – to determine my top priorities. By selecting the one or two top priorities (both strengths and weaknesses) that will make the biggest impact on your scores — and then focusing 80% of your efforts on just those areas — you’ll give yourself a better chance of accomplishing your goals, and you can do it far faster than you imagine.

Begin At The End

The goal of your course navigation strategy should always be to put yourself in situations where you are playing from your strengths.

Want the perfect example? Consider Luke Donald.

Luke Donald finished the 2011 season ranked the world number one player. But you’d never guess it from his driving stats. He finished 147th on the tour in driving – pathetic by PGA Tour standards.

So how did he wind up the #1 player in the world?

By finishing in the Top 10 in a number of other categories:

8th in scrambling;

8th in accuracy inside 100 yards;

2nd in accuracy from 50 to 125 yards;

1st from 100 to 125 yards;

Top 5 in putting inside 15 feet, and;

#1 in putting from 5 to 10 feet.

No other player is in the Top 10 in so many categories.

These are clearly his areas of strength, and he is smart enough to navigate his way around the golf course so that he is hitting from these distances as often as possible.

Do you think he is working on his driver? You bet. It’s probably his number one game improvement priority. But it’s not his only priority.

Clearly, he spends just as much time in his areas of strength, keeping his skills in these areas fine-tuned and sharp. How do we know that? His scoring shot skills from 50 to 125 yards and his putting from 5 to 15 feet are the strongest in the world. And, when all was said and done, this is what earned him millions of dollars and the #1 ranking.

Do you have to be excellent at every aspect of the game? Luke Donald is proof that you don’t … provided you cultivate and continue to sharpen skill strengths you can rely on — with complete trust — when you play.

During your next round, use your scorecard as a tool for identifying your own strength/weakness profile.

In the next newsletter I’ll show you how I use my scorecard priorities to select specific targeted drills, frame my practice session, and then practice effectively.

RELATED POSTS

Here are links to the entire High Performance Golf Newsletter Series. If you haven’t seen the videos I recommend you start with the first post on establishing performance baselines. Click the link below to get started, then look for the links at the bottom of each post to continue with the next video:

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8 Responses

I have started keeping the details of each round, as you have suggested in this thoughtful video. Transferring the data to the score tracker soon after the round gives me time to think about what went right, what could have been better and what was a disaster while the round is fresh in my mind. After today, slant board and right knee stack will be priorities at the next practice session.
On another note, the downhill chip technique you taught me produced an up and down par to tie the first playoff hole in a match that I won on the next hole.
Wynn

Thanks for the reminder…it’s so easy to lose focus about what is really going to improve your score. Pounding balls on the range might be therapeutic for the mind and body, but honing skills where you need the most improvement is the way to better scores…period.

Thanks Edwin. Fixing the swing for the sake of having a better swing is a wild goose chase. Better to address swing issues for the purpose of improving specific parts of performance, and specifically one of the aspects of shotmaking: Direction, Distance Control, or Shot Shape. It’s even better if you can systematically measure whether your swing changes are improving your shot making. That’s when you know you are on the right track. If I am working on direction (as I am right now with my driver), I’ll measure my progress by hitting a set of 10 balls at a target and then track the results. Any swing change I make is for the sole purpose of improving consistent accuracy. As I keep hitting 10-ball sets I can track my progress and evaluate whether or not the swing changes are the right ones. I’ll have more to say on how to practice like this in the next newsletter. Thanks for your comment!

Many thoughts on how to improve your game. Im always working on my game even while playing with my friends during a round of golf. This has brought up some interesting points which i will try, thank you for the advice!

Thanks for the comment. One thing I try to always do is keep a target focus when I play. During my post shot routine I observe the results as well as swing tendencies, but I resist trying to fix them on the course. Instead I take my post-shot observations and address swing issues when I am on the range. I’ve done thousands of on-course playing lessons and every time a student starts focusing on their swing their scores go south. I’d suggest a strategy of Observe and Adjust when you play, and address swing issues on the range. You’ll have a lot more fun on the course.

Hi Tom,
The ScoreTracker comes as a bonus to all golfers who purchase The 5 Keys To Distance. But I’ll be happy to send you the spreadsheet if you send me a note at HelpDesk@ TargetCenteredGolf.com. Include your name and a short note requesting ScoreTracker. Please use it and come back here to post a comment about what you learn. Cheers!

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

"Eric, This is superb instruction. Very clear and easy to understand. I have countless books and videos on golf instruction but you are the first person to explain these principles so clearly. I have been struggling for years with hitting from the top and now after watching just a couple of videos I have very clear idea of how to finally overcome it. Thank you very much." Don

"Eric - After the dozens of lessons I have had from accomplished PGA pros and the hundreds of hours I have spent practicing my swing I did not believe I would ever be able to overcome my obsession with the mechanics of the swing. Nor did I believe it was even possible to will myself into “the zone” and, potentially, stay there for long periods in spite of the chaos going on around me. Nor did I believe I could apply the concepts involved in the full swing to every part of my game with ease and immediate results. After reading The Five Keys to Distance and practicing your drills for a few months I now know I was wrong on all counts! Your methods are pure genius!" JM

Hi Eric,
"I wanted to send you a big thanks to your 5 Keys to Distance program. It has done two very important things with my golf. The first is that it has increased my ball flight carry by 10% in only a few weeks. And secondly and the most satisfying is it has given my whole golf game in particular my shots from scoring range (100 yards and closer to the green) pure control with my centered balance. So I can't thank you enough. Your balance drills I do without fail each morning before breakfast, and it will continue to be my daily routine. Without Balance The Club Can Not Swing!! Kind regards." Clayton P.

"Eric, I know you promised me 20 more yards with my driver. I'm actually getting more like 30 yards and sometimes even 50 more yards. But what you didn't mention is the added distance WITH EVERY CLUB IN MY BAG! I'm hitting all my irons at least one club longer, plus I'm really compressing the ball now. It's so much fun! You should tell everyone about this "extra" benefit from your program!" Gerry M.

"Eric, I have to tell you that I’m absolutely delighted with your drills. They make perfect sense to me, and I’m actually enjoying doing them because I can tell intuitively that they will make a real difference. I have for a long time avoided going to the range because I felt that I was simply reinforcing my mistakes. I am going to the range now with quite a different attitude because after only two sessions on the range I can see improvement already. I’m determined to keep up with the drills, and I can tell you that your presentation of them is excellent. I’ve had lots of lessons in the past from some of the best "swing gurus" in the world. But none of them have made a real difference to my swing like you have. I’m very excited now because I can already feel the difference. Best wishes" Jeff W.

“Eric, After several weeks of study and practice on the first section of BLAST the results have been OUTSTANDING! At age 73 my driver length ranged between 175 yards and 210 yards. Now with some extensive training from you the distances are ranging from 220 yards to 255 yards. The 255 yd. distance was achieved after working on the BALANCE, LEVERAGE & ARC WIDTH drills. Thank you for your help. I almost resigned myself to play from the seniors tee or give up golf!” Dick B.

"I just wanted to follow up with you regarding my progress while using your program. After just 3 months I am seeing a lot of new and exciting things happening to my golf swing. I find that I am hitting all of my clubs longer and more squarely than ever before. Every shot I hit now feels like it is hitting the sweet spot and is going very straight. My club head speed use to be about 90 mph now my club head speed is on average 110 mph. The main key for me was increasing my hip speed and reducing my grip pressure. My old swing was very arm dependent and now it feels like I can swing much faster with a lot less effort. Thank you again for your great series." Jorge O.

"Hi Eric, I recently purchased your instructional videos on Long Drive. They are the best golf teaching tool I have ever found. Your explanations of what to do and why are outstanding. I am a structural engineer and have a good understanding of the physics, mechanics and dynamics of the golf swing, so your explanations are especially meaningful to me. At age 63, I am still reasonably fit and strong, and your instructional videos have increased my average distance per club by 15 to 30 yards. Thanks for excellent videos!” Barry

Hi Eric,
"I ordered your book and DVD a few weeks ago and I'm getting a lot out of it! I'm going very slowly, but thoroughly. Thanks very much for writing it. I've read tons of golf books, but no one has ever put as much emphasis on balance and FEELING what the body is doing during the swing. The drills bypass the intellect and force the body to "get it" directly." Pete

"Eric, I received your book yesterday and have been reading it and highlighting ever since. Your book, DVD, and interviews are awesome!! Just what I have been looking for a very long time. I can tell already that I need to build up some stabilizing muscles in my body. Thanks again for your dedicated research and sharing this incredible book with your fellow golfers." Mike P.

“Just want to tell you that I've been doing the drills for a few weeks now, up to the swing arc drills, and am noticing much improvement at the range. I can't wait to take it out to the course. Thanks for simplifying golf instruction for me!" Rick P.

Dear Eric
"Instantly you made the game fun again. The consistency was amazing, both as to direction as well as trajectory and shot shape. Even the sound of the iron shots was much better. Thanks for an exciting round. I love working through all the steps and drills. Greens in regulation are now the rule and not the exception. More distance, less effort, more accuracy, no sore muscles, more fun." Ron G.

"Eric, best investment I've made so far in all the you know whats out there. I played nine and was nailing my tee shots like I haven't seen in ages. I haven't been more encouraged ever." Peter S.

"Eric, You have an uncanny ability to break down the components of the golf swing into simple terms with great clarity. I gain additional insight each time I read your book “5 Keys to Distance” and review this video. Thank you soooo much. When is your next book coming out? Please put me down for the first release." Orson L.